We live in a culture of condemnation

As I have fasted condemnation for Lent, I find myself pondering so many things that I might have excused or glossed over. I recently heard John Ortberg say that we live in a culture of condemnation. I thought "No, Duh!"  Not because he was saying the obvious, but because the obvious has become so OBVIOUS to me when it had previously been so hidden.

Our culture breeds condemnation. We live with an us and them mentality.  Which in its own form is condemning someone for not being like me. Not like me because of race.  Not like me because of religious or political affiliation or from making our politics a religion. Not like me because of wealth, education, occupation, creative or not creative.  We are bombarded. The list is never ending.

I once heard that accountants who spent their day looking for errors had brains that became hard wired to search out errors. It became hard for them to look at anything without pointing out the error or flaw.

I found this to be true when I was a part of a church plant straight out of seminary. We spent 6 months visiting churches every week as a staff to get an understanding of church. We would meet after and debrief what we liked and disliked to determine what we wanted to do as a church plant. It was so hard for me after that season to sit and simply worship during church. My brain was in the habit of analyzing instead of worshipping. I had to fight to get my worship back.

It has truly hit me profoundly that I am struggling with condemnation because it is all around me. I literally am having to fight it because it is every where!

I wonder if this is why we are told that GOD did not send HIS SON to CONDEMN the world (John 3:16). Oh boy! We need not forget that!  God sent Jesus to save us not condemn us (John 3:16).

Right now my saving is trying to rewire my brain moment by moment by thinking through every thought and holding it captive.  Yeah, be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rms 12:2).

I know I am not God, but I am asking, "What can save this conversation, thought, or moment? How can I restore what is perceived as broken or worthy of condemnation? How can I see the other or circumstances with eyes that restores, refreshes, awakens, builds, gives, ignites... and speak life into that?

I feel I am failing a thousand times a day still.  But I am so much more aware. I am repenting alot and missing a bunch. But I can feel a change in me. I am a bit more patient in my thoughts than I used to be and as I said before, I am surprised by love I did not know was in me.

Are you willing to ask, "How has the culture of condemnation gotten ahold of my thought patterns and created unholy ruts of destruction?"

Father, help. I need You to reveal the cultural patterns in me and around me that give permission to condemn. You do not condemn us, You seek to save us. Who am I to condemn?  Jesus is the one that died and rose again. Jesus is the One who sits at Your right and and intercedes for us. Help me to join Him in praying instead of condemning. In Jesus' name, amen

Jesus Calms the Storm

How do you hear Jesus' voice when He says to the disciples, "Why are you afraid? Where is your faith?"( Matthew 8:23-27). Is the tone harsh or gentle? It changes the story if the tone is condemning. 

We are promised there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). 

If this verse is true then what tone might Jesus being using?

Lessons learned from fasting condemnation

Well, I am about 31 days into fasting condemnation. Oh my! How about you? What have you fasted for lent? How ya doing? 

I should know better than choosing something that I know is going to hit me in the face as I do it. The crazy thing about fasting something is that this means we spend way too much time thinking about it. Or at least I do. Honestly, this is why I focus more on internal things. The whole point of a fast is so we can draw closer to the LORD. 

I don’t know why I am so surprised when spiritual lessons hit hard. I asked for it. I should expect it. I confess that I wasn’t anticipating that asking for a conscious awareness of every time I have a spirit of condemnation would cause me to face some pretty intense mental spiritual battles. Now that I am on the other side of a few of them, I recognize now that it was warfare! UGH!

Honestly, it happens so fast I am not even conscious that it is happening and then boom. There it is. I find myself in the mental struggle of condemnation and because I am praying the LORD reveals to me that I need to repent. Yep! Repent. You know that moment when you acknowledge, “I am in sin!” and you confess it so you can draw closer to God. If you have never tried it. You should. It is quite liberating. 

Well, I found myself mentally justifying my attitude. IF… But… Well… Fill in the blank for any justification you have given for why you condemn. UGH! The mental spiral flipped the switch where I wanted to justify, and I recognized that I was condemning. It is crazy how our minds can be so messed up. In this situation, I had someone that offended me. It hurt. Ugh. I felt justified in my condemnation. I felt I had the right to be miffed and righteous in my attitude. 

BUT GOD!

You know when Jesus was in the wilderness, He used scripture to counter Satan’s attacks. So, it is always wise to find scripture that will help you in these moments. 

Here is the verse that God gave me. It is written by Paul. If possible, I invite you to read it as if it is spoken with as much sarcasm as you can imagine Paul saying it. It is written in Taraphrase!

“Who are you to condemn?

Jesus is the one who died!

More than that…

 He was the one who raised from the dead!

 He is the one who sits at the right hand of God!

 He is the one who intercedes for us!” (Romans 8:34).

HAVE YOU DONE THIS? I THINK NOT!

I have to laugh! So, this is what I am saying to myself when the spirit of condemnation runs amuck in my mind. It not only shuts me up but makes me laugh. It helps me to see the beauty of the gift Jesus has given for me and for all of mankind. 

Who am I to think I have a right to condemn when Jesus willing died for the one I am condemning? Whether the condemnation be of myself or another.

I am still in the process of being steadfast to renew my mind. I am still on the journey of growing. I have learned to laugh at myself a lot and yes to repent A LOT! I am drawing closer to God as well! But the one thing that surprised me the most which should not was how much the LORD has awakened love in me. When I have taken the time to honestly pray and humble myself before the LORD with my spirt of condemnation, He allowed me to love deeper! Seriously, y’all! WOW! What a wonder!

I found myself seeing, hearing, knowing, and wanting to understand in ways I had not when I allowed the spirit of condemnation to run amuck!

What if each of us chose to become more aware of how easy it is to condemn ourselves or others? What if we chose to remind ourselves, we haven’t died for them, or sat at the right hand of God, or not really prayed? What if we just paused to pray? What might that look like? I have a feeling God might actually awaken love in more circumstances that we realize. 

Oh my! I had no idea y’all what God was going to teach me through this fast, but I am ever so thankful!

Shalom y’all!

Touch that ignites change

The woman who bled for 12 years thought, "If only I can touch His robe, I will be healed." 

The Greek word for touch can be described as her flame touched Jesus' flame and it became one. 

The fire of faith inside her ignited the fire inside Him and this is why she was healed when she touched Him. This is also why no one else in the crowd bumping up against Him were healed. They did not touch Him with a fire of faith that could be ignited.  

O Father, give us the fire of faith that ignites healing. In Jesus' name, amen!

Abiding Stability

I have had in my mind's eye a visual showing the Anchor of Hope and the Vine. I saw the vine encircling the anchor with much fruit hanging. I realize these two would never really be in the same environment, yet we are given both the Anchor and the Vine as visuals and names for our LORD.

Stability and life. 

Security and fruitfulness. 

Strength and multiplication. 

I remembered seeing what an anchor looked like in Jesus' day when I was in Israel. So, I sought to try to paint it with vines growing around it. It wasn't until I was done painting it that I realized that there is a heart shape. I love this because both the Anchor of Hope and the Vine are ways God reveals His love to us through His Son, Jesus. 

I hope my simple painting blesses your heart.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Heb. 6:19).

"I am the vibe, you are the branches; whoever remains in me bears much fruit" (John 15:5).

Winter will always lead to spring

As I sat with one of my lovelies, we were discussing the hardship of winter. Our winter seasons are so hard. They are dark and cold, so very cold. This makes us feel alone, lonely. I told her, "I truly believe it is about to get better and you will be lifted up." 

"How do you know this?" She asked.

As I looked out the windows I saw the beautiful buds on the trees. "Well, there are several reasons why. Look at the trees. What do you see?"

"The tree has new leaves starting to grow." 

"Exactly, after winter comes spring. Always. Why?"

"It must die or go dormant to bring new life again."

"Yes! Exactly! I have also observed the reality of this in my life. When it feels the darkest and as if I can't press on, I soon discover new life being born again. Seasons come, but they must also pass on. There is hope in this rhythm."

"For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land" Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (ESV).

Where do you feel worn out?

What in your life wears you out? You know that feeling that drags you down and makes you feel harassed, hassled, or exhausted? 

Yesterday, I came across Daniel 7:25 and was caught by the statement that the "little horn" which in this case is referencing the one who is the anti-Christ or in words we understand Satan, will "wear out", "oppress", or "wear down" the saints. 

Okay, seriously! Let us sit here for a moment. The enemy of God will strategically do whatever it takes to wear us down. In the original language, this implies being so wore down that you are no longer usable. It is a harassment that affects us mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. It is consumption. 

So let's ask again, what is wearing you down or consuming you? Is it scrolling social media or the internet? Or maybe the news? Or a schedule that is so full that you no longer pause for fueling your soul? Or maybe you have forgotten how to play? Or maybe you spend too much time watching TV? Or maybe you have stopped dreaming or creating? Or you have so isolated yourself that you no longer know how to relate or connect? Well, the list can go on. These are just a few of my consumption possibilities that wear me out if I do not keep watch over them. 

I immediately am reminded that when Jesus saw that the people were harassed and hassled like sheep without a shepherd He had compassion on them (Matthew 9:36).

We are not left hopeless with this warning that the enemy will wear us down. We are also given a beautiful promise. 

Satan's power will be taken away. Daniel 7: 26 actually tells us THE COURT will sit and his power will be destroyed forever. FOREVER. 

It took me a moment. At first, I thought this meant that Satan would be made to sit as well as his minions, legions, and dominion. But it actually means that Jesus' court will sit. We are told in Psalm 110:1 that Jesus will place Satan, sin, and death under His "footstool" to show complete defeat. Imagine with me Jesus completely relaxed with His feet propped up on a stool with the enemies of God sittting under His feet. It is done. Finished. Victory completed. Satan's court does sit under Jesus' feet defeated. 

Y'all we have hope in Jesus. He is our author and finisher of our faith. Right now, we need to keep our eyes on the ONE who sees that we are harassed and hassled. He has compassion for us. He sees the atrocities of man and the depth of our depravity. He knows who is evil and who is innocent. He is returning with complete victory. The evil one and all who join him will be defeated once and for all. 

So, we must draw near to Him. Seek Jesus! Call upon His name. He will answer you with compassion. We are remind in Daniel 7:27, "Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey HIM." 

Would you rather be worn down by the one who will be defeated or be one who takes part in the heavenly kingdom?